Newark schoolyard slaying trial will include testimony about scent-tracking dog

Robert Sciarrino/The Star-LedgerSuperior Court Judge Michael Ravin listens to defense attorney Roy Greenman on Tuesday.
NEWARK — The presiding judge at the Newark schoolyard slayings trial today has allowed testimony from a dog handler for the Essex County Sheriff’s Office whose bloodhound tracked a scent from a cell phone found near the scene to the defendant’s home several blocks away.

The dog handler, Sheriff's Officer William Caldwell, is expected to take the stand this morning.

The ruling by Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin came over the objections of the defense attorney for Rodolfo Godinez, who is the first of six defendants to stand trial for the Aug. 4, 2007, triple killing behind Mount Vernon School.

The attorney, Roy , questioned the reliability of tracking dogs like the one from the Sheriff’s Office. “I don’t think there’s any foundation laid that it’s anything other than junk science,” Greenman said. “There has been no study that bloodhounds are reliable enough.”

Greenman also questioned the particular bloodhound, canine Hunter, which tracked the scent of a cell phone belonging to one of the victims in the killings to near Godinez’s backyard a few blocks away. The dog lost the scent there at 210 Tuxedo Parkway, which abuts the 209 Midland Place home where Godinez had lived.

Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas McTigue said the dog had passed a number of tests. “As far as qualifications of the dog, he’s been proven reliable in terms of tracking and scenting.” He also said that statements Godinez had made to police shortly after his arrest indicated he and the other five accused all went to his Midland Place home after the shootings that night.

In issuing his ruling, Ravin said “the dog has proven reliable in tracking human beings, both according to tests and out in the field. There is no evidence to show that the dog was handled any other way than properly.”